Bilboards from Phillipians

I generally throw the good quotes into First Phrase and I’m never really sure if they get read or not as no one has bothered commenting (I do like comments you know and not just limited to here). While I’m at it check out Red and Blue for some good or not so good books – comment there as well!

This quote however, deserves not to be missed and so I’ll share it here. It also helps to illustrate if not sadly illuminate a small part of my own life.

The reason some of us are such poor specimens of Christianity is because we have no Almighty Christ. We have Christian attributes and experiences, but there is no abandonment to Jesus Christ. – Oswald Chambers

I came out of Year in the Son with this thorough determination to be honest about what I’d spent the year doing. It could sound a bit silly but I think it’s important to mention that it’s not just a personal development course, despite coming out with a Cert IV in Youth Development, but that it’s also theology and in throwing that simple word in you shed light on a lot of what you are on about, interested in. I guess I came to this conclusion after being influenced by those post yits-leavers who talked about how describing what you spent your time was difficult.

I’ve stuffed up explaining, leaving the ‘God bit’ out several times now. I did it again today. The frustrating and bit I’m fairly ashamed about was that I actually remembered it. I think some of my fear lies in the potential questions that could follow and not being able to answer them properly.

I had a talk to God about this stuff as it and was slightly encouraged in reading some of Phillipians 2.

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. – Phil 2:12-13 (italics mine)

Another thing emerged as I considered myself and evaluated who Rebecca has been lately. A “harmless” comment made by a friend the other day pointed out that I can complain a lot. Yes this is aided with tiredness when you reach the point of don’t care, but that’s no excuse. Around this friend, much of my complaint is in jest or simply for fun – we both know that, however who can ever really disassociate one part of life with another?

I have been hypersensitive in the past few days to the fact that I’ve been complaining a fair bit, or just had a less than godly attitude towards people. Specifically observing myself in a less than familiar situation at uni, in talking with a friend (still sort of aquaintence) from my course. I find myself gravitating towards highlighting the less than good about the individual – namely lecturers or a situation. Frustrating again as I keep catching myself short right after I say what I don’t want to or in the attitude I really hate.

It seems like Phillipians was where my face was meant to be stuck today,

Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing. -Phil 2:14-16

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. – Phil 2:1-4

A goodly bit of being pulled up short is useful now and then. I am rather ashamed I don’t have the guts sometimes to be willing to be more open about what I believe. I’ve been burnt about it what, once before, and they soon got over me being a Christian and actually started talking to me again. I shouldn’t have anything to hold me up. The least I could do is start acting more Christlike. :\